The Overland is an interstate passenger train service in Australia, travelling between the state capitals of Melbourne and Adelaide, a distance of 828 km (515 mi). It first ran in 1887 as the Adelaide Express, known by South Australians as the Melbourne Express. It was given its current name in 1936. Now operated by private company Journey Beyond, the train undertakes two return trips a week. Originally an overnight train that stopped at large intermediate stations, it now operates during the day, stopping less frequently.
The Overland at Geelong Junction
Heavy passenger cars, steep grades and sharp curves in the Adelaide Hills necessitated two locomotives in the early days of the Adelaide/Melbourne Express, before "Big Power" arrived
In 1951, "Big Power" steam locomotives would soon be superseded by diesel-electrics and wooden passenger cars of The Overland would be replaced by all-steel air-conditioned cars, one of which is in this train
1967 steel sleeping Car Yankai (JTB 2) in the 1999–2007 livery
Journey Beyond is the business name of Experience Australia Group Pty Ltd, a private-equity-owned company, known mainly for operating Australian interstate experiential tourism trains and The Overland. As of December 2021, the company was a diversified tourism business based in Adelaide, South Australia, with interests in cruise and air tourism in addition to rail. In January 2022, the United States travel company the Hornblower Group acquired the business from Quadrant Private Equity, which had owned it since 2016.
The Indian Pacific train, between Perth and Sydney, is one of Journey Beyond's brands
